Military Chief Challenges Trump's Enemy Within Talk

In a Senate hearing, General Gregory Guillot, the top commander of US Northern Command, dismissed President Trump's claims about an "enemy within. " Guillot stated he had no evidence to support Trump's assertions, which were used to justify sending National Guard troops to cities like Los Angeles and Chicago. The general's remarks came as Republicans and Democrats debated the purpose and legality of these troop deployments. Republicans argued that the troops were needed to combat crime and border threats. Democrats, however, saw the move as politically driven and a potential violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits military involvement in domestic law enforcement. Senator Tammy Duckworth criticized the president for putting military personnel in a difficult position. She argued that troops could be forced to choose between following the Constitution and obeying the president's orders. Meanwhile, Senator Elissa Slotkin expressed concern about the idea of having National Guard troops near polling places, suggesting it could intimidate voters. The Pentagon's top lawyer acknowledged that federal law generally prohibits troops from being stationed at polling places. However, he noted that the president has the authority to declare an emergency that would allow such deployments. This hearing took place just after a federal judge ordered the administration to stop National Guard deployments in Los Angeles without the governor's approval. The judge's ruling added another layer of complexity to the ongoing debate about the use of military forces in domestic affairs.